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Archival Education
Introduction
In 1994 the Society of American Archivists approved the Guidelines
for the Development of a Curriculum for a Master of Archival Studies
Degree. “SAA believes that programs of the extent and nature
outlined in these guidelines are the best form of pre-appointment
professional education for archivists.” The complete guidelines
have been reproduced in this directory (see page 3). Currently,
no such degree programs exist in the United States. The M.A.S. programs
that exist in Canada are based on similar guidelines established
by the Association of Canadian Archivists. The number and content
of archival education offerings, especially multicourse programs,
has continued to expand in recent years. Graduate archival programs
should offer a variety of courses that include basic archival theory,
methods, and/or practice of appraisal, arrangement, description,
preservation, reference services, outreach, legal concerns, and
ethics. Programs should also offer courses that include records
management, aspects of library and information science, management,
and historical and research methods.
Masters
of Archival Studies Programs
M.A.S. programs should conform to either SAA's guidelines or
the Association of Canadian Archivists' Guidelines for the Development
of a Two-Year Curriculum for a Master's of Archival Studies (1990).
Both curricular guidelines recognize that archival knowledge is
distinct from that of other professions, and should be the core
(approximately two-thirds) of the coursework leading to the degree.
Archival work rests on an understanding of the environment in which
documents are created and used, and that archivists rely to some
extent on knowledge not entirely of their own creation. Hence M.A.S.
programs must include coursework in contextual areas such as history
and law, as well as in complementary areas such as conservation,
library and information science, and research methods. M.A.S. programs
should also include a practicum to permit experiential learning.
Graduate
Multi-Course Programs
Graduate multi-course programs generally offer students an introduction
to the theory and practice of archival appraisal, arrangement, description,
preservation, automation, reference, outreach, law, ethics, and
managerial functions. These programs also offer opportunities for
advanced study in archival issues and a practicum. The programs
are usually set within the context of a master's degree program
in history or library science; and some offer a joint M.A.-M.L.S.
degree in history and library science. Some programs also offer
archives as a field of study for the Ph.D. in either history or
library science. Applicants to schools of library science are advised
to check the accreditation status of those schools through the Accreditation
Office of the American Library Association, 312/944-6780, ext. 2432.
Graduate
Coursework
Certain institutions offer one or two courses, or a single course
plus a practicum. This coursework offers an introduction to archival
theory and practice, but does not constitute a full graduate archival
education program.
Continuing
Professional Education
Continuing professional education opportunities focus on complex
applications of accepted archival principles, with new developments
in the field, or with special problems related to allied professions.
Training is geared toward the post-appointment professional.
Basic
Institutes
Basic workshops or institutes provide an introduction to archival
theory and practice, for those who have been unable to receive graduate
training in the profession. The institutes provide a basis for individuals
to seek additional training.
Financial
Aid
To inquire about financial aid for graduate programs, the applicant
should contact the institution directly. In addition, some organizations
offer nominal scholarships for graduate or continuing education.
For example, the Midwest Archives Conference offers a grant for
graduate study to an individual of a minority ethnic background
(MAC president, Pat Michaelis, Kansas State Historical Society,
785/272-8681, ext. 270, pmichael@hspo.wpo.state.ks.us);
the Colonial Dames of America offers a scholarship for continuing
education through SAA (SAA, 17 North State Street, Suite 1425, Chicago,
IL, 60602-3315, 312/606-0722, info [at] archivists.org;) and the Society
of Southwest Archivists offers the A. Otis Hebert Award for continuing
education (SSA, P.O. Box 569 Liberty, TX 7757-0569 or http://www.tulane.edu/~lmiller/SSA.html).
Placement
Many job opportunities in the profession are advertised in SAA's
newsletter—Archival Outlook—as well as the newsletters
of regional and local archival organizations. SAA also publishes
a bi-monthly Employment Bulletin and sponsors a placement service
each year at its annual meeting. There are also several listservs
that post job openings. To subscribe to the “Archives and Archivists
Listserv,” send an e-mail message to: listserv@miamiu.acs.muohio.edu.
In the body of the message type: sub <your name>. Individual
library and information science programs or other related departments
also may have job listings.
Certification
The Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA), founded in 1989,
is an independent, non-profit organization for certifying professional
archivists. To become certified, an archivist must qualify for
and
pass an examination administered by ACA. The exam is offered at
least once a year in conjunction with the joint annual meetings
of ACA and SAA, and at other sites pending demand. For more information,
contact the ACA Secretariat, c/o Steve Grandin, Capitol Hill Management
Services, 48 Howard St., Albany NY 12207, 518/463-8644, fax 518/463-8656,
or browse the ACA web site at www.certifiedarchivists.org.
SAA Directory of Archival
Education home page
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